Manydown also has other resources. The company owns all but a few of the houses in Wootton St. Lawrence. It rents any not used by the company's 22 full-time staff to people working in the neighbourhood.

"The house-letting is infinitely more profitable than growing crops," Mr Oliver-Bellasis says.

He reluctantly admits that a section of land bordering Basingstoke may well end up being used for the same purpose. It was designated as land for new houses in 1996.

This change in countryside use has stirred an otherwise apathetic non-farming community he says.

"When they think they're going to lose their view then they pay attention."

Going to grass

Hugh Oliver-Bellasis is passionate about farming, but he worries about its future.

Under the new structure of subsidies, Mr Oliver-Bellasis warns, the incentive to grow crops - with little prospect of profit - may well diminish.

He believes many farmers may cut their losses, accept the subsidy and put their farms into grass.

He says the "effect on Mr and Mrs London" will be a long time coming. But it will impact on the environment and eventually affect tourism.

"Instead of seeing a patchwork quilt of crops, tourists will see grass, grass and more grass."